Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / May 2005

In the past it was known that hairless rats didn't live as long as the
haired rats. But these days, they seem to live beyond 2. But, hairless rats
are definitely more prone to eye infections, cysts, abscesses, cuts and
wounds and their skin becomes quite dry. They have a harder time maintaining
their body temperature and need a diet higher in protein because their
metabolism is way faster than the haired guys.
As for character, my little hairless was nippy, but not to hurt, more like a
child checking things out. They sure are warm little guys.

i've had three hairless rats so far. chewie and yoda (brothers) were
29 months when they were pts (chewie had an ear problem that we
couldn't fix and he and yoda were so close that i decided that the
most humane thing would be to send them to the bridge together). they
did both have chronic dry eye.

amelia is a year and a half or so now and has been healthy as could
be.

i don't care for them any differently than i care for my furred rats-
they eat the same, live in the same cages, etc.

i think it depends more on breeding and the lines they're bred from
than hair vs no hair.

--
"know she breaks, my siren" (tori)
http://shattering.org
x-no-archive: yes in headers

I have one hairless (Maggie, my first rat) and two haired dumbo males.
Maggie has had two cebacious cysts (like big blackheads) and one abscess on
her head, so I would agree she's more prone to skin issues, but nothing too
terrible.  One of my haired boys got a horrible leg tumor at only 4 months
old and lost his leg, so he's had it much worse!  Maggie has a wonderful,
gentle, sweet personality, she's very warm, and she loves sitting on my
shoulder (whereas the boys don't).  I don't notice that she's smarter or not
from the boys - they're all pretty smart!  I would definitely get another
hairless - at first I had a hard time with how she looked (being my first
rat and all) but now I swear I don't even notice a difference because I just
love her personality so much.

Meghan